Thousands of Puerto Rican students and school employees flooded the streets of San Juan on Wednesday rejecting austerity measures that would cut funding for the University of Puerto Rico. Police prevented university supporters from reaching La Fortaleza. The proposed cuts are part of the government’s plan to start getting reducing its $79 billion dollar debt, a balance sheet that some warncould force the government into bankruptcy in a matter of months. Supporters of the University of Puerto Rico argue that tertiary education is the last thing that should be cut from the budget.

“The country has an obligation to cut its debt, but there’s an obligation to provide services to Puerto Ricans,” said Johanna De la Cruz, a professor and Executive Committee Member of the APPU.